Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking time out of his schedule to discuss the matter of the Respond care home in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. The building was finished in 2017 but, regrettably, has been lying idle for more than two years. It is designed to cater for people with physical and sensory disabilities and is badly needed in the community but, unfortunately, has been dogged by delay after delay. The people of Carrickmacross and the wider south Monaghan area are significantly disappointed, frustrated and angry with the delays. Families are suffering as a result and people are rightly angry that a much-needed facility is lying idle two years after construction was completed.

Part of the problem is that up to five agencies are involved in the project but none has the lead on it. That is a contributing factor in the delay in delivering this group home. The net result of the delay is that the system is failing special and deserving people and, indeed, their families. We need to learn from this debacle and ensure that projects of this nature which involve multiple agencies have one lead agency that can take control and have sole responsibility for delivering the project.

In the meantime, I hope the Minister of State will be able to provide us with a definitive date for the opening of this facility which is badly needed by people with physical and sensory disabilities. I hope his response will provide good news for them on this debacle which has been going on for more than two years.Can he provide us with a date for when the doors of this facility will be open?